I am having no luck chipping paint using tape. I typically use an enamel or lacquer undercoat then cover with acrylic (typically Tamiya, or Vallejo). What I am finding is that the tape does not take any paint off the model. I use the tan masking tape which seems to be pretty adhesive. Any tips or tricks to make this an easier operation? Different tape, paint etc?

are you pulling the tape when the piant is completly dry?

youre suppose to dab at the model when the paint in close to being dry

Are you separating the two colors with a gloss varnish?
If not the colors tend to blend and adhere better with each other thus making the procedure harder!With the varnish you can make it easier and you won't be afraid that the tape will take off some of your basic color too!
If you are putting a varnish and still you don't get the desired effect then probably its because what armorjunior said!

Ola Godfather...

Buy a little bottle of Micro mask. first spray layer 1. Apply micromask with a little piece of scotch and brite on the places you want chips. Soray second layer... let cure second layer and now start working with tape to get the scotch and brite off.

Result should look like this:



Tedious task yes but worth the time as the result is very impressive.

With friendly greetz

Robert Blokker

I just used the Marmite method on my pz2 I painted it german grey then dabbed marmite on with a piece of ripped sponge then sprayed it yellow for Africa corps then when the paint is dry I rubbed it with a piece of sponge under a runnig tap and off comes the paint and marmite, instant chipping,oh the paint has to be acrylic or water base.learnt this from military modelling international.

Sheesh the things people will do to avoid eating marmite....
I'm amazed acrylics dont pull off easily with tape. How about using dabs of maskol before you paint then pull the dabs off to replicate chipping. bit easier than slimey and sticky food.

I usually get acrylic pulling off even when i dont want it to when i use any kind of tacky masking tape.

Has anyone tried the salt method? I read that one, and it looks good, want to try it out soon.

Wasnt too sure about the marmite path so i too would follow this method Robert.

Cheers for that!

Could you use toast instead of a sponge?

Here you go, its not finished yet but this was my first attempt at chipping and I was quite pleased with the results.Wholemeal Toast done on both sides works best

Folks let us face it; the paint results are indeed impressive but how worn and torn could a tank look with only heavily damaged paint where it has no bent / warped fenders or other structure ?

For example the tank seems to be kicked out of whack with the anti tank gun shell hit, the heavily stripped paint but the rubber road wheels don't have a single nick or scratch on them. Is that possible ?? The fenders are as though the tank rolled out of the plant just yesterday... Don' t the crew walk on them ? Didn't that tank carry any infantry on it during it's glory days before it got bumped ? Think about it...

I do not go on heavy weathering. I prefer "lightly used" vehicles. But please do not take this as flaming; it is just friendly advice...

All the best...

I think we should remember that winter cammo is very temporary and field applied usually by primative methods,Desert cammo in ww2 was no exact science the desert conditions begin to weather a vehicle almost immediatley,yesterday I saw a photo of a armoured car crew applying camel dung by hand to their panzer grey vehicle, wonder how long that lasted.

Well I fell asleep last night without doing dishes. If they used frosted flakes it could probably hold up with a direct hit!